Moabosaurus Facts
Pronunciation: MOH-ah-boh-SORE-us
Name meaning: Moab Lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 5m |
| Length | 18m |
| Weight | 15 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | United States |
Moabosaurus was a massive sauropod dinosaur that roamed the ancient landscapes of what is now Utah during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 137 million years ago. This long-necked giant belonged to a group called turiasaurians, some of the largest land animals that ever lived. Named after Moab, the town near where its fossils were discovered, Moabosaurus represents one of the most complete sauropod skeletons found in North America from this time period.
Like other sauropods, Moabosaurus was built for reaching high vegetation that other dinosaurs couldn't access. Its enormous size - measuring around 18 metres in length and standing about 5 metres tall at the hip - would have made it a true giant of its ecosystem. The dinosaur's long neck contained numerous vertebrae that allowed it to sweep across wide areas whilst feeding, rather like a massive biological crane.
As a herbivore, Moabosaurus spent most of its time searching for and consuming plant matter. It would have used its peg-like teeth to strip leaves and soft shoots from conifers, ferns, and other Cretaceous plants, swallowing them whole rather than chewing. To aid digestion, it likely swallowed stones called gastroliths that helped grind up tough plant material in its massive stomach.
The discovery of Moabosaurus has provided valuable insights into sauropod diversity during the Early Cretaceous period in North America, a time when these giants were beginning to diversify into the forms that would dominate the Late Cretaceous landscapes.
What made Moabosaurus distinctive?
Moabosaurus possessed the classic sauropod body plan with an extremely long neck, small head, massive body, and long whip-like tail. Its vertebrae show distinctive features that identify it as a turiasaurian, including specific bone structures in the neck and back that distinguish it from other sauropod groups.
Behaviour
Moabosaurus likely lived in herds for protection against predators, moving slowly across the landscape in search of suitable feeding areas. As a massive herbivore, it would have spent most of its waking hours feeding to fuel its enormous body, using its long neck to browse vegetation at heights up to 10 metres above ground.
Discovery
Moabosaurus was first described by Brooks Britt and colleagues in 2017. The original fossils were discovered at Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, USA.
Moabosaurus FAQ
What did Moabosaurus eat?
Moabosaurus was a herbivore that fed on various Cretaceous plants including conifers, ferns, cycads, and early flowering plants. It used its peg-like teeth to strip vegetation rather than chew it, swallowing plant matter whole and relying on stomach stones to help break down the tough material during digestion.
How big was Moabosaurus?
Moabosaurus was approximately 18 metres long and stood about 5 metres tall at the hip, weighing an estimated 15 tonnes. This made it one of the larger dinosaurs of its time, though not quite as massive as some of the
Late Cretaceous sauropods that would come later.
When did Moabosaurus live?
Moabosaurus lived during the
Early Cretaceous period, approximately 137 million years ago. This was a time when flowering plants were just beginning to appear and sauropods were diversifying into many different forms across the globe.
Where was Moabosaurus found?
Moabosaurus fossils were discovered in the Cedar Mountain Formation in Utah, United States, near the town of Moab. This rock formation is famous for preserving many important dinosaur fossils from the
Early Cretaceous period.
How do you pronounce Moabosaurus?
Moabosaurus is pronounced MOH-ah-boh-SORE-us, with emphasis on the first syllable. The name combines 'Moab' (the Utah town) with 'saurus' meaning lizard in Greek.
What does Moabosaurus mean?
Moabosaurus means 'Moab lizard', named after Moab, Utah, the town near where its fossils were discovered. The name honours the local area where this important dinosaur discovery was made.
How fast could Moabosaurus run?
Like most large sauropods, Moabosaurus was not built for speed. Its massive size and body structure suggest it moved relatively slowly, probably walking at speeds similar to modern elephants - around 5-10 km/h at most when necessary.
What type of dinosaur was Moabosaurus?
Moabosaurus was a sauropod dinosaur, specifically a member of the turiasaurian group. Sauropods were the long-necked giants of the dinosaur world, characterised by their massive size, long necks and tails, and plant-eating lifestyle.
Was Moabosaurus related to birds?
No, Moabosaurus was not closely related to birds. As a sauropod, it belonged to the saurischian group of dinosaurs, but it was on a completely different evolutionary branch from the theropod dinosaurs that eventually gave rise to modern birds.
How many Moabosaurus fossils have been found?
The Moabosaurus fossil represents one of the most complete sauropod skeletons found in North America from the
Early Cretaceous period. While the exact number of bones recovered hasn't been fully detailed in popular sources, the skeleton was complete enough to allow scientists to formally name and describe this new species in 2017.
